This marks the first time in decades that China has made a public announcement regarding an ICBM flight test, reflecting its intent to showcase its military capabilities….reports Asian Lite News
China conducted a successful test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Wednesday, capable of reaching U.S. cities, marking a rare publicised demonstration of its strategic deterrence capabilities. The launch, which the Chinese Defence Ministry described as a routine part of its annual training plan, aimed to assess the weapon’s performance and military training effectiveness.
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Rocket Force had notified relevant nations prior to the test, as reported by state media. This marks the first time in decades that China has made a public announcement regarding an ICBM flight test, reflecting its intent to showcase its military capabilities.
While the Defence Ministry did not specify the missile’s range, reports from the South China Morning Post indicate it could potentially reach the U.S. mainland. China’s arsenal includes several ICBMs, such as the DF-31AG, DF-5B, and DF-41, along with submarine-launched variants like the JL-2.
The missile was launched into the Pacific Ocean, landing in pre-designated areas. The Chinese statement emphasized that the test aligns with international law and is not aimed at any specific country. Historically, China’s first ICBM, the DF-5, successfully flew over 9,000 kilometres in May 1980.
This missile test occurs amid heightened missile activities in the Asia-Pacific region, with North Korea conducting short-range ballistic missile tests earlier this month. China continues to increase its nuclear arsenal while adhering to a “no-first use” nuclear weapons policy. The DF-41, the most advanced ICBM, entered service in 2017 and has an operational range of 12,000 to 15,000 kilometres.
This test follows recent U.S. military exercises with the Philippines, which included deploying mid-range missile systems amid ongoing tensions over the South China Sea. According to a Pentagon report, the PLA Rocket Force is advancing its modernization plans, enhancing its strategic deterrence capabilities with new ICBM developments and expanding its number of launchers.
Military analyst Song Zhongping highlighted that this launch represents a thorough evaluation of China’s ICBM reliability and capability, emphasizing its role in deterring potential nuclear coercion against China. The missile tested was likely a DF-31 or DF-41, showcasing China’s growing military sophistication.
In the digital era, China seeks to influence global opinion by inviting international vloggers, including many from Taiwan, to counter accusations of human rights abuses and criticisms from democratic nations and organisations….reports Asian Lite News
Propaganda and narratives have consistently formed a fundamental part of the ideological framework within Communist regimes. This was particularly evident in the Soviet Union during Stalin’s era, where widespread famine in Ukraine coincided with the exportation of wheat to other nations, all while the regime maintained a facade of normalcy in Ukraine.
Similarly, since the conclusion of the Chinese Civil War and its consolidation of power on the mainland, China has established an intricate propaganda apparatus.
In today’s digital age, characterised by limited internet access and social media restrictions within China, the government has sought to sway foreign public opinion. This includes inviting international vloggers and influencers, predominantly from Taiwan, to counter allegations regarding human rights abuses and other criticisms from democratic nations and global organisations.
This article will examine the situations in Xinjiang and Tibet, alongside China’s strategy of engaging these influencers. Notably, many of these influencers hail from Taiwan—a territory that China claims as its own. The implications of this outreach extend to Taiwan itself and resonate with a wider global audience.
What is Happening in Xinjiang and Tibet
Xinjiang and Tibet represent two of China’s most sensitive and contentious regions. Xinjiang is predominantly inhabited by the Uyghur Muslim minority, while Tibet is home to ethnic Tibetans, the majority of whom are practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism.
In both areas, China faces accusations of undermining local cultures, restricting religious freedoms, and suppressing dissent. In Xinjiang, allegations of “re-education” camps, extensive surveillance, and forced labour have led to significant international backlash. Conversely, in Tibet, the ongoing exile of the Dalai Lama and China’s stringent control over Buddhist practices remain highly controversial issues.
China has consistently rejected these allegations, framing its actions as essential for maintaining state integrity, combating terrorism, and facilitating economic advancement.
However, the reality presents a stark contrast. Numerous reports from the United Nations document human rights violations perpetrated by China in Xinjiang. The region has effectively become a vast prison for the Uyghur population, where the Chinese government imposes extensive surveillance and restricts religious freedoms.
The situation in Tibet mirrors this repression; since the early 1950s, China has systematically undermined local authority and religious practices. Currently, construction projects in the area have led to the destruction of significant Tibetan religious sites and have inflicted considerable harm on the environment and local ecosystems.
How China is using influencers in Xinjiang and Tibet
The Communist government in China has faced ongoing scrutiny from democratic nations, human rights organisations, and international bodies regarding alleged human rights violations in the regions of Tibet and Xinjiang. The engagement of foreign and Taiwanese social media influencers, particularly on platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, serves as a crucial mechanism for Chinese propaganda.
By inviting Taiwanese influencers to visit Xinjiang and Tibet, China gains a strategic advantage, enabling it to connect with a broader demographic of young, tech-savvy audiences both in Taiwan and internationally. Many of these influencers boast substantial followings and significantly shape public perceptions of the regions they depict.
Consequently, China aims to present Xinjiang and Tibet as safe, thriving areas, directly opposing the claims of human rights abuses that have been levelled against it.
The regions these influencers portray to their audiences are meticulously selected: they visit prosperous urban centres, attend culturally vibrant performances, and tour well-maintained religious sites. Through visually appealing photographs, video blogs, and social media posts, they depict an image of harmony, economic progress, and cultural preservation.
This narrative stands in stark contrast to the accounts provided by independent journalists, human rights groups, and Uyghur and Tibetan exiles, who describe a region where state oppression is pervasive.
On September 5, Taiwan announced that it was aware of reports suggesting that China had been recruiting Taiwanese influencers to visit Xinjiang and create content aimed at promoting a more favourable image of the region.
The Mainland Affairs Council, which oversees cross-strait relations in Taiwan, indicated that it is investigating the recent surge in Xinjiang-related content produced by Taiwanese influencers. The council also cautioned these influencers against violating anti-infiltration laws by accepting financial incentives from Beijing.
In June, Taiwanese YouTuber Potter Wang claimed that the Chinese government was inviting Taiwanese influencers on sponsored trips to China to create content.
In response to his assertions, several Taiwanese YouTubers who recently published videos about Xinjiang denied receiving any payments from Beijing. The Taiwan Affairs Office in China addressed concerns raised by Taiwanese officials, stating that Beijing had invited “Taiwan compatriots” to visit China to experience “the magnificent mountains and rivers, savour a variety of foods, engage with local customs, and share their observations.”
What is China trying to achieve through this?
Through these sponsored influencer initiatives, China aims to reshape its global image as a violator of human rights. However, for Taiwan, there are underlying motives. Earlier this year, Taiwan conducted democratic elections where Chinese influence was evident in attempts to sway the electorate towards the Kuomintang (KMT), a party more amenable to Beijing.
Instead, the Taiwanese populace opted for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which displeased the Chinese government. One of Xi Jinping’s long-standing ambitions is to incorporate the self-governing democratic island of Taiwan into mainland Communist China.
To achieve this, China has employed various strategies, including military threats, blockades, and misinformation campaigns targeting Taiwan. The current effort to engage Taiwanese influencers is intended to attract citizens who can significantly influence public opinion.
Any content shared online can reach a global audience; thus, if Taiwanese influencers produce favourable narratives about China in relation to Tibet and Xinjiang, it may not be perceived as propaganda since it originates from Taiwan.
In January, Taiwan’s government effectively countered misinformation campaigns from China during its elections. It can identify and disclose any payments made by China with caution. Other countries can adopt similar measures regarding influencers who have visited Xinjiang and Tibet at China’s invitation.
Regarding the potential impact of this strategy, it is unlikely to have a significant effect as most of the world is already aware of China’s human rights violations in Xinjiang and Tibet; however, Taiwan must remain vigilant.
(Lt Col JS Sodhi (Retd) is Editor, Global Strategic & Defence News and the Author of “China’s War Clouds: The Great Chinese Checkmate”)
Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor PLA activity…reports Asian Lite News
Taiwan’s military has been placed on high alert after China intensified its military presence around the island, sparking concerns of a potential escalation. According to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence, six Chinese naval vessels and two military aircraft were detected around Taiwan within a 24-hour period, Taiwan News reported.
According to the MND, the two People’s Liberation Army (PLA) helicopters crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the nation’s central and eastern air defence identification zone (ADIZ),
In response to this provocation, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor PLA activity, as per Taiwan News.
“2 PLA aircraft and 6 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 2 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s eastern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly,” Taiwan MND said on X.
This latest incident is part of a series of escalating military manoeuvres by China around Taiwan, sparking concerns about potential invasion or encirclement.
Last week, while addressing a press event on September 19, Taiwan’s Defence Minister Wellington Koo cautioned against the possibility of China launching an attack on Taiwan under the guise of military exercises, noting that Beijing has increasingly diversified its military manoeuvres, making it more difficult to predict China’s assaults, Focus Taiwan reported.
China has been employing a combination of “conventional” military practices, such as joint air and sea training exercises and drills, with “unconventional” means, such as “gray zone” incursions into air and waters around Taiwan, Koo said.
This has become the norm and will persist regardless of the results of the United States presidential election in November, he said.
In addition, these military actions have increased in scale, making it more difficult to predict when military exercises could suddenly turn into an attack on Taiwan, Koo noted.
Notably, so far this month, Taiwan has tracked 323 Chinese military aircraft and 192 ships. Since September 2020, China has increased its use of gray zone tactics by incrementally increasing the number of military aircraft and naval vessels operating around Taiwan. Gray zone tactics are defined as “an effort or series of efforts beyond steady-state deterrence and assurance that attempts to achieve one’s security objectives without resort to direct and sizable use of force.”
Meanwhile, earlier today, China announced that it has test-launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into the Pacific Ocean.
The ICBM, carrying a dummy warhead, was launched by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Rocket Force at 00:55 GMT on Wednesday and “fell into expected sea areas,” the Chinese Ministry of Defence said in a statement. (ANI)
Whipps Jr noted that Taiwan’s absence from the international organization and its specialized agencies was “ironic,” given that this year’s UN General Assembly theme is “Leaving no one behind….reports Asian Lite News
Four of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies have called for the inclusion of the country in the United Nations system during the recent UN Summit of the Future, which took place alongside the annual UN General Assembly.
According to Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), President Hilda Heine of the Marshall Islands, President Surangel S Whipps Jr of Palau, Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini of Eswatini, and President Santiago Pena of Paraguay all advocated for Taiwan’s inclusion in the UN system during the inaugural Summit of the Future, held on September 22-23, as reported by Taiwan Focus.
In her address, Heine highlighted Taiwan’s role as a “key partner” to the Marshall Islands, stating, “Taiwan’s important partnership deserves appropriate recognition. If we are to truly ‘leave no one behind,’ then Taiwan deserves meaningful and enhanced participation in the UN system.”
Whipps Jr noted that Taiwan’s absence from the international organization and its specialized agencies was “ironic,” given that this year’s UN General Assembly theme is “Leaving no one behind.” He further stated that Taiwan’s exclusion from the UN resulted from a “misinterpretation” of UN Resolution 2758, adopted by the 26th UN General Assembly in 1971 to address China’s representation at the world body. As a result, Taiwan, officially named the Republic of China (ROC), lost its seat to the People’s Republic of China, which has led to its exclusion from participating in the international organization and its affiliates.
In his speech at the Summit of the Future, PM Russell Mmiso Dlamini of Eswatini emphasized that Taiwan “contributes significantly to global public health, economic development, and technological innovation,” and called for Taiwan’s “meaningful participation in international organizations.”
Pena, meanwhile, expressed Paraguay’s conviction that the future should be one of peace, moving us further from violence and conquest. He stated, “In a phrase, ‘might does not make right.’ For this reason, we defend countries like Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, which have a right to be respected and treated with dignity.”
The inaugural summit occurred at the start of the UN General Assembly’s “High-level Week” in New York. The summit endorsed a so-called Pact for the Future, a comprehensive document aimed at making the UN system suitable for the needs of the 21st century.
Among other ambitions, the pact includes commitments to reform the global financial architecture, adapt the UN to new security threats, advance sustainable development, harness digital technologies, and address the needs of youth and future generations. The 79th session of the UN General Assembly commenced at UN Headquarters in New York on September 10, with the General Debate scheduled for September 24-28 and September 30. (ANI)
China, which has long sought to diminish India’s influence in South Asia, has, for several reasons fuelled anti-India sentiments within the national politics of Bangladesh and other South Asian countries….reports Asian Lite News
The recent political turmoil in Bangladesh has evoked severe discussions on the future of radicalism and national security in South Asia. With political disruptions taking shape in various countries in the region, many have called for addressal of structural issues in order to prevent further destabilisation.
However, the intensity and scope of foreign interference in South Asia has led to various challenges of its own that has threatened regional peace and economic growth.
Upon closer examination, the state of Bangladeshi politics and by extension, the broader South Asian region, reveals the rise of emerging radical elements that have the potential to disrupt regional and global peace. China, which has long sought to diminish India’s influence in South Asia, has, for several reasons fuelled anti-India sentiments within the national politics of Bangladesh and other South Asian countries.
Not only has Beijing aimed to counter balance New Delhi’s traditional influence in the region, thereby reducing India’s strategic advantage, but it has also sought to expand its own role as a regional hegemon and project power beyond its traditional neighbourhood.
These ambitions have become increasingly evident, with China now being the largest exporter of military equipment to Dhaka and granting substantial infrastructure loans to further its influence. As a result, China’s strategic interests in South Asia have taken on a multifaceted approach, particularly through its expanding influence in Bangladesh.
While China asserts itself as a development partner, investing heavily in infrastructure, its interference in Bangladesh seems to be having significant repercussions on regional security, particularly in India and the whole of Southeast Asia’s fight against radicalism.
This dual strategy, on the one hand, cracking down on Muslim populations domestically through re-education camps in Xinjiang, while on the other, indirectly promoting Islamist groups in Bangladesh, raises severe concerns about Beijing’s true intentions as well as the broader security dynamics in South Asia and beyond.
Rising Islamist Radicalism in Bangladesh: A Consequence of China’s Support?
Bangladesh has long been a key partner in India’s regional counterterrorism strategy, particularly in tackling radical Islamist groups like Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI), Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), and their networks.
However, China’s growing influence in Bangladesh is complicating this area of cooperation that stood the test of time during the previous regime. As China strengthens its economic and military ties with Dhaka, Islamist groups seem to be gaining more freedom, especially since the new government has taken over.
Radical groups such as the Hifazat-e-Islam and Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) have enjoyed a resurgence, with their ideologies finding safer space to grow, more often than not with indirect protection due to geopolitical gains that Beijing is seeking to make.
These groups have also been known to have historical linkages with global terror outfits like Al-Qaeda (AQ) and ISIS, further complicating the region’s security dynamics. For instance, JeI has long been associated with Islamist extremism, and its alignment with China’s strategic goals indirectly allows them to operate more freely, complicating India’s efforts to curb extremism within its borders with Bangladesh’s assistance.
Spreading of Radical Islamist Ideology beyond Bangladesh
The ramifications of unchecked radicalism in Bangladesh also extends beyond South Asia, threatening the security of Southeast Asia as well. Radical Islamist ideologies promoted by groups like JeI and Hifazat-e-Islam, while also being promoted through Chinese intervention, have the potential to spread to countries with significant Muslim populations, such as Malaysia, Indonesia and even Sri Lanka.
These regions, especially Malaysia and Indonesia, have seen an uptick in radical Islamist activities, and Bangladesh is on the path of acting as a new breeding ground for these radical activities. Given the global nature of extremist networks, this spread could deepen regional insecurity and destabilize parts of Southeast Asia, mirroring the trajectory seen in Bangladesh.
Furthermore, Beijing’s support for radical groups that are prone to be Anti-India, has further created opportunities for destabilization in India-Bangladesh ties. As far as India is concerned, its security concerns are rooted in its experience with past Islamist radical groups that had previously operated with impunity from Bangladesh. The HuJI and JMB networks have long had cross-border operations, infiltrating India’s northeastern states and spreading radical ideologies and terrorist activities.
In the 1990s and 2000s, HuJI was notorious for its attacks on Indian soil, including bombings and assassinations, which were partly facilitated by the lack of stringent action from the Bangladeshi government. Similarly, the JMB, responsible for numerous attacks within Bangladesh, has also extended its tentacles into India. Thus, China’s influence in Bangladesh has majorly weakened not only India’s ability to counter these groups effectively but also opened the gates to radical elements spreading to other regions as well.
Among the major warning signals that should guide relevant stakeholders’ strategy is thechilling example of the Holy Artisan Bakery attack in Dhaka, where five gunmen, affiliated with ISIS, killed 22 people, including foreigners.
The attack demonstrated how radicalization in Bangladesh had evolved from local extremism to global jihadism, with links to transnational terror networks like ISIS. Moreover, the radical preacher Zakir Naik, known for his inflammatory speeches and support for extremist ideologies and under scrutiny for inciting the terrorists in the Holy Artisan Bakery attack, has reportedly found safe harbour in Dhaka since the regime change recently. These events must act as wake up calls for Bangladesh’s security establishment before the ramifications turn the tide against Dhaka’s favour.
China’s Contradictory Approach: Re-Education Camps in Xinjiang vs. Promotion of Radicalism in Bangladesh
Perhaps the most perplexing aspect of China’s strategy is its contradictory approach to Islam. While China implements draconian measures in Xinjiang, such as re-education camps aimed at erasing Uighur Muslim identity, it appears to be indirectly promoting Islamist elements in Bangladesh by aligning with an Islamist government. This dual policy of suppressing Islam at home while fostering relationships with radical elements abroad, serves China’s larger geopolitical aims, but at the cost of regional security as well as revealing its true intensions of promoting a healthy environment for radicals in Bangladesh and beyond.
By allowing Islamist radicals to flourish in Bangladesh, China aims to weaken India’s as well as Southeast Asia’s counterterrorism efforts and create a potential proxy through which it can influence regional dynamics. Beijing’s long-term strategic interest in diminishing India’s influence in South Asia clearly involves turning a blind eye to the rise of radical Islamist groups in Bangladesh, even though this threatens regional security and stability.
Hence,the broader implications of China’s Bangladesh strategy are alarming for South Asia’s security landscape. By aligning with an Islamist-leaning government and allowing groups with radical tendencies to operate freely, China is creating a situation that can spiral out of control later, if not sooner. This not only undermines India’s fight against radicalism but also risks the spread of extremist ideologies across the region.
China’s involvement thus has the potential to influence Bangladesh’s internal political landscape. With Chinese support, certain political factions have been emboldened, leaving an impression that radical elements will be tolerated in Dhaka under the guidance of Beijing. This is also particularly relevant for India, since groups with extremist leanings are already aligning with anti-India rhetoric, using Chinese backing as a shield against Indian influence.
Therefore, as Dhaka becomes more reliant on Chinese investments and military aid, its foreign policy must find greater autonomy in decision making as compared to the shift from India’s security concerns it is currently undergoing. A weakened bilateral relationship would adversely affect both India and Bangladesh’s abilities to coordinate on security matters, including the fight against radicalism in both the countries.
In a worst-case scenario, Bangladesh might feel less inclined to crack down on groups that operate in both countries, potentially using radicals as leverage in regional diplomacy. However, this strategy is at the same time going to have long term effects on Dhaka’s own growth and internal security trajectories. Thus, instead of settling in for pity geopolitical interests, it is important for Dhaka to unmask the strategies Beijing is conveniently deploying for its own geopolitical gains. By contrasting China’s inroads into Dhaka’s domestic, regional and geopolitical interests, the Bangladeshi interim government will do well to safeguard the future of its country as well as its people.
Lin described the Quad as a mechanism the U.S. uses to gather forces to exclude and contain China by pushing the “China threat” narrative….reports Asian Lite News
China on Monday criticised the Quad – a grouping of the U.S., India, Australia, and Japan – labelling it as a tool used by the Washington to contain Beijing, media reported.
It also stressed that external interference would not deter its resolve to defend its “sovereignty and maritime rights” in the contested South and East China Seas.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian emphasized that the Quad, comprising the U.S., India, Australia, and Japan, serves as a key component of the U.S.’s Indo-Pacific strategy, with the primary aim of maintaining American hegemony and containing China.
During a press briefing, Lin described the Quad as a mechanism the U.S. uses to gather forces to exclude and contain China by pushing the “China threat” narrative.
He stated that despite U.S. claims of not targeting China, the discussions at the Quad Summit, hosted by President Joe Biden in Wilmington, Delaware, focused heavily on China.
The summit brought together Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia, and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan.
Lin referenced informal remarks by Biden during the summit, where the U.S. president was overheard discussing China as a challenge, signalling Washington’s concern about China’s rising influence.
Biden reportedly told fellow Quad leaders that China was testing them, reflecting the American focus on the emerging Chinese threat.
In response to these remarks, Lin accused the U.S. of spreading lies and using fear tactics to rally support against China, claiming even U.S. media was skeptical of such narratives.
China reiterated its stance that the Quad undermines trust and cooperation among regional countries and contradicts the collective pursuit of peace, development, and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.
According to Lin, efforts to create exclusive groupings such as the Quad are destined to fail.
China has consistently opposed the Quad since its inception in 2007, perceiving it as a direct challenge to its regional assertiveness, particularly in the South China Sea.
Despite Beijing’s objections, the Quad has gained momentum in recent years, emerging as a key strategic platform to counter China’s growing influence.
Beijing has become increasingly vocal in expressing its frustration over Islamabad’s failure to address economic and security challenges, writes Dr Sakariya Kareem
China-Pakistan ties are seeing a downward trajectory amidst growing differences over several bilateral issues. Beijing is getting impatient over Islamabad’s failure to repay debts and provide adequate security to Chinese nationals in Pakistan. Despite external fundings from global institutions and China’s financial support, Pakistan has failed to stabilize the economy. Consequently, China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is facing a slowdown amidst reports of several projects facing delays or possible shutdowns. While Beijing is trying to somehow save CPEC and other projects, Islamabad is more interested in bilateral defence and security cooperation, mostly targeted against India.
According to reports, Pakistan has been pressing China to hold anti-terrorism exercises in areas along the India-Pakistan border. China has reportedly shown reluctance to the Pakistani proposal, which can unnecessarily cause tensions with India. This shows that Islamabad is not serious about ensuring safety and security of Chinese citizens in Pakistan, rather it wants to use bilateral and multilateral military exercises to provoke India and hide its counterterrorism failures.
Since the launch of the new military operation, Azm-i-Istehkam (Resolve for Stability), on June 22, terror attacks in Pakistan have surged substantially. According to a report from the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), at least 254 people, including 92 civilians and 54 security personnel, were killed in militant attacks and bombings in August, making it the deadliest month for Pakistan in the past six years. More concerning is that the majority of these attacks occured in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, regions hosting several China-sponsored projects. Balochistan saw a sharp rise in violence, with at least 125 people killed, including 80 civilians, 22 security personnel, and 23 militants. In recent years, Chinese nationals have been frequent targets of deadly attacks in these provinces. On March 26, a suicide bombing claimed the lives of five Chinese engineers working on the Dasu dam project in Shangla district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Dasu bus blast
Furthermore, hardly a week before the suicide attack, Baloch insurgents targeted Chinese interests by storming the Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) complex and Turbat naval base near China-run Gwadar Port, which is a key component of the CPEC, in Balochistan province. These incidents renewed serious concerns about the safety and security of Chinese personnel and projects in Pakistan. Just two days after the Dasu bombing, a Chinese company suspended civil works at the Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project and laid off more than 2,000 workers due to “security reasons”. In 2021, Pakistani authorities had awarded a USD 355 million contract to Power Construction Corporation of China Ltd for civil works on the project. The 1,530MW Tarbela dam was scheduled to start power production before 2026.
Attacks on Chinese nationals come at a significant financial cost for Pakistan, which is already grappling with a severe economic crisis. Beijing has become increasingly vocal in expressing its frustration over Islamabad’s failure to address economic and security challenges. In June, Chinese President Xi Jinping cautioned Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that while China was open to expanding and upgrading economic ties, Islamabad needed to first establish a “safe, stable, and predictable” business environment for Chinese companies and personnel.
Similarly, Liu Jianchao, the Minister of the International Liaison Department of the Communist Party of China—responsible for managing China’s relations with political organizations globally—highlighted Pakistan’s “internal security deficit” as a major factor eroding Chinese investors’ confidence. He stated that “security threats are the main hazards to CPEC cooperation.” Liu also pointed to Pakistan’s ongoing political instability as a key reason for its economic failures, urging Pakistani politicians to unite and address the complex challenges the country faces.
Shehbaz Sharif and Xi Jinping
Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, visited China from June 4-8 with a large ministerial delegation, including Pakistan Army chief General Syed Asim Munir, in a desperate attempt to revive bilateral ties with their “all-weather” ally. It was Sharif’s first extended visit to China after becoming the prime minister in March. During his visit, Sharif reportedly sought fresh loans from Beijing and requested more time to repay outstanding debts. However, he did not get anything substantial in return besides few Memoranda of Understandings and lots of warnings from the Chinese side. In August, Sharif had written a letter to the Chinese government requesting debt reprofiling for Pakistan in an apparent bid to secure the International Monetary Fund’s approval for a USD 7 billion economic bailout by next month.
China is increasingly concerned about its financial investments in Pakistan, fearing that they may not yield any positive returns in the future. Notably, a third of Pakistan’s total external debt is owed to China. However, Islamabad appears more focused on using multilateral and regional platforms like the United Nations or the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to target India. Beijing is growing frustrated with Pakistan’s attempts to use it as a tool in advancing its anti-India agenda. Instead of addressing the alleged cross-border terror attacks from Afghanistan and Iran, Pakistan’s military wants to conduct more anti-terrorism exercises with China in areas near the border with India. Reports indicate that Baloch insurgents and Tehreek-i-Taliban are behind many attacks targeting Chinese nationals in Pakistan, with groups having a reported presence in Pakistan’s western neighbours. Yet, Pakistan Army remains hesitant to hold joint counterterrorism exercises with China in either Balochistan or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, showing Pakistan’s duplicity when it comes to addressing terrorism.
Despite Pakistan’s false assurances to strengthen security at China’s repeated request, including a new counterterrorism operation, the situation continue to deteriorate, with increasing unrest and violence targeting key Chinese projects under the Belt and Road Initiative. The ongoing instability presents unprecedented challenges to the Gwadar port, CPEC and China’s “all-weather” partnership with Pakistan. Ultimately, the responsibility for these setbacks lies with Pakistan’s incompetence, duplicitous behaviour, and its continuous attempts to use its relationship with China against India.
While the international community is increasingly recognising the severe abuses perpetrated against the vulnerable Uyghur population, existing legal frameworks are inadequate due to the intricate nature of manufacturing processes and the lack of transparency surrounding them….reports Asian Lite News
Over the last ten years, the global community and media have persistently highlighted the extensive atrocities inflicted by China upon its minority groups, particularly the Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang province. The Uyghurs represent approximately 45 per cent of the region’s demographic and have endured various forms of oppression, including mass detainment and indoctrination through what are termed ‘vocational education and training centres’.
This has been accompanied by pervasive surveillance technologies, enforced sterilization, and systematic sexual abuse. In August 2022, Michelle Bachelet, the then UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, released a significant report indicating that China’s treatment of the Uyghurs might amount to “crimes against humanity”.
China’s rollout of 5G technology will be used to further monitor and control Uyghurs
The report detailed large-scale arbitrary detentions, torture methods such as forced starvation and coerced medical procedures, alongside evidence of forced labour.
The so-called ‘re-education camps,’ which have also been referred to as ‘internment camps’ or ‘concentration camps’ by various observers, first emerged in 2014 and saw substantial expansion in 2017. According to the Chinese government’s narrative, these actions are framed as necessary measures to combat terrorism, extremism, and separatism.
In 2019, claims made by the governor of Xinjiang suggested that many individuals had ‘graduated’ from these centres, leading to perceptions that numerous facilities had been shut down.
However, in 2020, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute revealed that this closure was merely a façade for a shift towards utilising the formal prison system for detaining those deemed a ‘threat’ to state security, evidenced by a marked increase in prosecutions and convictions of Uyghurs.
Furthermore, to evade international scrutiny, China has been employing deceptive strategies to suppress its Uyghur Muslim minority in Xinjiang. One such tactic involves presenting forced labour as a labour transfer initiative aimed at employment generation, industrial development, and poverty alleviation.
Adrian Zenz, a prominent researcher on China’s policies in Xinjiang, examined the work practices of Uyghur Muslims in 2023 and uncovered that the labour-transfer programme involved the forced relocation of Uyghur Muslims to state-assigned jobs far from their home regions.
Unsurprisingly, these workers are threatened with prosecution or imprisonment should they attempt to leave their employment. Zenz asserted that this labour-transfer initiative is utilised in the production of various goods, including cotton, tomatoes and tomato products, peppers and seasonal agricultural items, seafood, polysilicon for solar panels, lithium for electric vehicle batteries, and aluminium for batteries, vehicle bodies, and wheels.
Another method through which China compels Uyghur Muslims into involuntary labour is via the prison system. As previously noted, recent years have seen alarming rates of Uyghur prosecutions. For example, Human Rights Watch reported that approximately half a million individuals in Xinjiang were prosecuted between 2017 and 2022.
Ughurs in Chinese detention camps. (Image Courtesy: @ETAwakening/Twitter)
Similarly, a leading media outlet disclosed that one county in Xinjiang recorded that one in every 25 residents was convicted on terrorism-related charges, all of whom were Uyghurs.
The accusations brought against Uyghurs by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) can range from serious charges like terrorism to trivial ones such as ‘picking quarrels and provoking trouble.’ Given that labour is a standard practice for inmates, Uyghur Muslim prisoners are exploited to support China’s industrial growth by working in agriculture, mining, and the manufacturing of goods.
The troubling reports of forced labour in Xinjiang have prompted Western governments to implement legal restrictions on imports from the region.
In 2021, US President Joe Biden enacted the Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act, requiring companies to prove that their imports are not produced through forced labour involving Uyghurs. Similarly, in April 2024, the European Parliament approved legislation set to take effect in 2027 that will screen imports linked to forced labour.
Notably, by the end of the first four months of this year, the EU had already imported goods valued at $641 million from Xinjiang. According to a 2022 study, polysilicon produced in Xinjiang, essential for solar panels, accounted for approximately 95 per cent of photovoltaic energy in the world’s top 30 solar power-producing nations.
The same research indicated that Xinjiang was responsible for about 18 per cent of globally traded processed tomato products and that one in five garments worldwide contained cotton sourced from the province.
Companies face significant challenges in identifying products made with Uyghur forced labour due to China’s strategic obfuscation of these practices under various pretenses, including the so-called labour transfer scheme.
We expect India to intervene to stop the genocide: Uyghur leader
Earlier this year, Human Rights Watch published a report condemning major global automotive manufacturers, including General Motors, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Tesla, for failing to adhere to responsible sourcing standards regarding aluminium linked to Uyghur forced labour in Xinjiang.
Recently, China has established itself as a leading producer and exporter of automobiles, with Xinjiang emerging as an industrial centre that experienced a dramatic increase in aluminium production, rising from one million tonnes in 2010 to six million tonnes in 2022.
Approximately 9 per cent of the global aluminium supply is sourced from Xinjiang, and since much of this aluminium is blended with other metals to create finished products, it becomes exceedingly difficult to ascertain the extent to which forced labour contributes to these goods.
While the international community is increasingly recognising the severe abuses perpetrated by China against the vulnerable Uyghur population, existing legal frameworks are inadequate due to the intricate nature of manufacturing processes and the lack of transparency surrounding them. Consequently, persistent pressure must be exerted on China to urge a change in its practices and to halt the dehumanisation, persecution, and exploitation of Uyghur Muslims.
The representatives of the nine nations in the letter urged the UN to take proactive measures against the “malicious distortions” of UN Resolution 2758…reports Asian Lite News
Permanent representatives from nine of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies, in a joint letter to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, advocated for Taiwan’s inclusion in the United Nations, Central News Agency (CNA) reported.
The joint letter was signed by representatives from Belize, Eswatini, Guatemala, the Marshall Islands, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), and Tuvalu.
The representatives of the nine nations in the letter urged the UN to take proactive measures against the “malicious distortions” of UN Resolution 2758, which the allies believe threaten the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and jeopardise peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, according to CNA reported.
China claims that the UN resolution “confirmed” its “one China” principle, asserting that there is only one China in the world and that Taiwan is an “inalienable part of China.”
In contrast, Taiwan has argued that the resolution only addressed China’s representation at the UN and did not mention Taiwan or define its political status or establish China’s sovereignty over it.
The letter also called on the UN to uphold its principle of neutrality and “cease the incorrect interpretation of UN Resolution 2758 that unjustly prevents the people of Taiwan and the media from accessing the United Nations to visit, attend, or cover meetings and events.”
The letter was delivered to Guterres’ office in advance of the UN’s Summit for the Future and the General Debate of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly scheduled for next week, Central News Agency (CNA) reported.
After submitting the letter, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ Permanent Representative to the UN, Inga Rhonda King, remarked that it is hard to imagine Taiwan being excluded from the upcoming summit.
She emphasised Taiwan’s significant role in advanced semiconductor production and artificial intelligence technology, questioning how such a technological powerhouse could be left out of the negotiations.
Guatemalan Permanent Representative to the UN, Carla Maria Rodriguez Mancia, expressed hope that more countries would support Taiwan’s inclusion in the UN. She noted that the topics discussed at the summit make Taiwan’s participation especially relevant, highlighting its status as a thriving democracy and a hub of technology.
Carlos Fuller, Belize’s Permanent Representative to the UN, stated that Taiwan is one of the island nations most threatened by rising sea levels, making its exclusion from UN climate conferences a significant issue.
In a separate statement, Lee Chih-chiang, head of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York, expressed gratitude to Taiwan’s allies for their strong support for Taiwan’s inclusion in the UN system.
He emphasised that a key priority for Taiwan’s UN campaign this year is to help the international community correctly interpret UN Resolution 2758 and to encourage the UN to find appropriate ways to include Taiwan. (ANI)
China and Japan on Friday asserted that they had reached a consensus in August over the wastewater release….reports Asian Lite News
China has said that it will “gradually resume” importing seafood from Japan following negotiations between the two nations that guarantee the safety of water released from the closed Fukushima nuclear facility, according to a report by Al Jazeera.
China and Japan on Friday asserted that they had reached a consensus in August over the wastewater release.
In a statement, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it will gradually resume imports of Japanese aquatic products that meet the regulation requirements and standards. “China will begin to adjust the relevant measures based on scientific evidence and gradually resume imports of Japanese aquatic products that meet the regulation requirements and standards,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, as per Al Jazeera.
The statement further informed that officials from both sides had recently conducted “several rounds of consultations” on Fukushima discharge.
Notably, China had imposed a ban last year on all seafood imports from Japan. The ban was imposed following the release of treated wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, Nikkei Asia reported.
Although, China was the only country with such attack on Japan, but the ban did pose a serious threat to its neighbor, as mainland China had accounted for nearly 20 per cent of Japanese seafood exports before the sanctions. Moreover, the ration for Scallops was roughly 50 per cent.
Japan-China bilateral relations soured sharply after China imposed the ban following the first release into the Pacific Ocean on August 24 by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc., operator of the Fukushima plant.
China took the measure even after the International Atomic Energy Agency concluded in July, after a two-year safety review, that revealed that the treated water discharge “will have a negligible radiological impact on people and the environment.” (ANI)
